Advice
How to Tell If You Have a Wasp Nest at Your Property
A wasp nest is often hidden in a loft, wall or shed, so knowing the early signs helps you act calmly before the colony grows.
Read the guide →£90
Wasp nest treatment, fixed price
We confirm the price with you before any work starts. It can depend on where the nest is and how easy it is to reach. Call 01392 590 140 or send an enquiry.
Please keep clear of the nest. Do not block the hole, spray it or knock it with a pole, as that tends to make things worse. Move children and pets away from that part of the property. When you call, tell us where the wasps are going and how high it is, and we will arrange a visit.
Older centre, newer estates
Ottery St Mary has an older centre with period buildings, and newer estates on the edges. Both can get wasp nests. Older roofs have gaps beneath tiles and around chimneys, while newer homes have loft vents, boxed soffits and cavity walls that a queen can enter without being noticed. Garages and sheds are also popular. Terraced or semi-detached homes may share a roof space, so a nest next door can affect you as well.
The signs are similar everywhere: wasps flying in a line to one gap, a faint rustling or buzzing from a loft, or paper-like chewed material around an opening. A dark damp stain on a ceiling can mean a nest is pressing close behind. Tell us about anything like this when you call. Do not shine a torch at the entrance at night; the light can attract the wasps and make them more active.
Gardens near the River Otter and farmland
With the River Otter and farmland close by, there is plenty of green space around Ottery St Mary, and wasps nest in hedges, trees, compost areas and banks as well as buildings. Fallen fruit, open bins and sweet drinks outdoors all draw wasps in during late summer, which can make a nest seem busier than it is. Compost heaps and fallen windfall apples are especially tempting, and they can keep wasps hanging round long after a nest is gone.
If you are not sure whether the wasps you see belong to a nest on your property, watch from a distance for a few minutes. A constant stream flying in the same direction usually points to the entrance. Pass that on and we can work out whether treatment is needed. Cover them where you can, keep bins lidded, and your garden will be a less welcoming place.
Treatment, safety and what to expect
The technician finds the nest and treats it with a professional product, so the colony dies back. We take care around children, pets and neighbouring gardens, and we explain what to do afterwards. Old nests can be cleared, and filling the entry gap helps keep new queens out next spring. As well as Ottery St Mary, we cover Sidford and Whimple nearby, in the EX11 area, so just ask if you live a little out of town.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly does a wasp nest grow in Ottery St Mary?
A nest starts with one queen in spring and gets bigger through the summer as workers hatch. By late summer it can hold thousands. That is why a nest found in May is far easier to deal with than one found in August. Early action is easier and safer for everyone.
What if the wasp nest is high up on the gable end?
Tell us the height and how the wall is built when you call. High nests may need ladders or a tower and extra care. Do not climb up yourself to look. The technician will check access before treating it. We will talk through the options when you call.
Is it all right to spray the wasps I can see indoors?
A quick spray at a single wasp is fine, but it will not deal with the nest, and more will keep coming. Spraying near the entrance outside is not advisable. If wasps keep appearing, there is a nest, and it needs treating. The nest itself needs a technician with the right product.